Page 109 of Cashmere Ruin
I clench my fists under the table. “Let’s hear it, then.”
The old man downs another shot of vodka. His face is a ridiculous shade of red, but under the pink neon lights, I can’t tell if he’s really that drunk. For a while now, I’ve been wondering if Vladimir Solovyov is truly the fool he wants me to think he is.
He clears his throat before I can fully decide. “What you did to bring the Groza Bratva back from the grave—that was admirable. It earned you a reputation. But it also means you’re lacking a type of security all other Bratvas have.”
Oh, this should be good.“And that would be…?”
“A bloodline.”
I frown. “My grandfather?—”
“Is dead. Has been for many decades now. And your heir is still unborn.”
Behind me, Yuri growls, “How dare you?—”
I hold my hand up. “It’s fine. Let him speak.”
He backs off in surprise. Vlad takes the opportunity to pick up where he left off. “You don’t have a bloodline behind you, Matvey. That’s your weakness. All Bratvas are built upon one thing: history. Family. That’s where leaders get their legitimacy. And you, Matvey—you have more skill than anypakhanout there. But you don’t have a father to back you, and that hurts your position.”
“Are you suggesting I make peace with Carmine?” The mere idea is enough to make me sick. With every second that goes by, it gets harder and harder to hold back my anger.
Vlad must sense that, because he hurries to clarify. “No, no. I wouldn’t dare presume.”
“Good. Then?—”
“… but you could still do something else.”
I scoff. “Let’s hear it, then. Should I raise my grandfather from the grave?”
“No. You should appoint me.”
For a second, I’m sure I must have misheard. “Say that again.”
“Make me yourbrigadir,” Vlad insists. “Do that and I’ll keep your ranks in order. My men and yours.”
“Last I checked, they were allmymen.”
“Then you should check again, because their loyalty is wavering.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. This is ludicrous. It’s so absurd, I almost want to laugh. “What about your beloved bloodline? In case you haven’t noticed, you still aren’t my father.”
“I’m your father-in-law. That’s as close as it gets.”
“And if I refuse?”
Something crosses Vlad’s eyes then. Something frosty and sharp. “Then that’s your prerogative,” he says coldly. “But your men will keep scattering. And it won’t be long before someone runs their mouth again and blows up another D.C. deal.”
I freeze. “What?”
“It’s about credibility,” Vlad keeps prattling on. “And frankly, you’ve already screwed the pooch too many times, both figuratively and literally. Like that girl you keep?—”
“That’s enough.” I rise from my seat.
Vlad scrunches up his face. “You can’t go on pretending, man! You’re married, but you’re living with another woman and child.I’m not saying you can’t have bastards, but most men have the sense to keep them far away from?—”
“Vlad. Stop talking.”
“Because you can’t handle the truth?”